Flight attendant discusses drunk passengers and favorite plane

Flight attendant Alexander Mylnikov joined aviation in 1989. All this time he has flown only with one airline, Ural Airlines. However, back then, 36 years ago (before 1991), it was called the Sverdlovsk United Air Squadron.

MSK1.RU spoke with Alexander about which passengers irritate him the most, which famous people were on board with him, and what attracts him to the flight attendant profession.

— Why did you decide to become a flight attendant?

— I liked it since childhood and wanted to fly on an airplane. My friends went to apply and called me with them. That«s how I became a flight attendant.

They no longer work, I still work. And I don»t know if I could work anywhere else. As they say: «This is my calling.» What attracted me then was travel, that I would visit other cities and countries.

— Where have you managed to visit during 36 years of work?

— I«ve managed to visit many countries. Thailand, Egypt, China, Maldives. In Europe too: Paris, Prague.

I liked the Maldives the most. There the sea is calm, corals. If there are waves, they are constantly somewhere far away. You only hear: «Shhh.» You look, there they are in the distance, and nearby the sea is calm, fish swimming.

— Is there a favorite route? Do you sometimes stay in another city for rest?

— Favorite directions are China, Thailand. Eastern flights. But otherwise, there»s no such thing as favorite or not favorite.

What attracts me is that on long business trips you stay there for some time. You can look around.

Sometimes we fly to another city — to Vladivostok, to Blagoveshchensk, to Khabarovsk or to another country, to Sharm El-Sheikh. Recently I flew to Hurghada with a layover. From there, the rested crew flies on the same plane to Yekaterinburg. And from there, another crew comes to us. And on it, we, rested, perform the flight.

— The most difficult passenger — what are they like?

— The most difficult are drunk passengers. They themselves don«t know what they want. They constantly call. You have to persuade them to behave normally. Not to throw themselves at anyone, not to be rude, not to be insolent. If they need something, it»s better to bring it, otherwise a scandal will start: «I wasn«t served here.»

— And the most favorite passengers?

— The most favorite is the passenger who, when they exit, you don«t even know that they were on the plane. The calmest passenger, that»s the most favorite passenger.

— What is the strangest thing passengers have forgotten on the plane?

— Strange, I don«t know. But there were documents, money, phones, dentures (teeth). Someone took out their teeth, put them in a cup and forgot. That»s the strangest such thing. All items that passengers forget on the plane are handed over to the lost and found.

— Soviet passengers — what were they like?

— Soviet passengers were generally super. As soon as international flights opened, then it started. Also «new Russians» appeared.

Now passengers are more cultured. Rarely do you encounter someone heavily drinking who is inadequate. There are still some, they pop up.

At that time, meals were only on those long flights — to Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Chicken, rice in reusable plates. We served it ourselves. It was brought in saucepans, we dished it out and gave it to passengers. And now each has an individual meal tray. Everything is already laid out.

For drinks, mainly there was water, sweet soda, and mineral water in glass bottles. We returned them for refund. However many bottles we received, that many empties we returned. The dishes were reusable, spoons, forks metal, knives.

— Is the food for pilots and passengers different?

— No, that«s not true. It»s made in one flight kitchen. But the ration is different. Sometimes the hot meal for passengers is tastier than for the crew.

The ration can include beef, chicken, fish, as required. Prepared differently. Different portion size in grams. But in one flight kitchen.

Food is delivered to the plane by the flight kitchen vehicle. This food is for passengers, this for the crew. Separately, in different containers, in different carts they bring it.

— With whom famous have you flown?

— Once Nikolai Karachentsov flew with us. We sat side by side, flying to Moscow from Yekaterinburg. At that time, there was an advertisement for «MMM» with his voice. I asked: «You probably got good money for the ad?» He says: «That«s not my voice.» I say: «So can you somehow file [a lawsuit], that it»s not your voice?» He answered: «You can dispute a face somehow, but a voice [no]. Everyone has different voices. And they might even be similar. I never proved that it was his voice.» We talked about life with him. A good guy. We said goodbye, shook each other«s hands in Moscow and parted.

We flew with Viktor Pavlovich Pavlov. A famous actor who, for example, played in «Operation Y and Other Shurik»s Adventures.» He held a microphone to his ear: «Receiving. The task is with him.» It was on a Tu-154. I look from the galley, we have a second vestibule there. And he stands by the mirror, making faces. I from behind the curtain: «Oh!» He to me: «Hello.» So we got talking. His daughter also became a flight attendant. And she says: «Once I came back from a flight. Brought a meal tray or something from the plane.» She asks: «Why?» Because there«s a proverb: «When leaving the airfield, take something home.»

I even helped Oleg Tabakov carry his bag. The pilots said: «Help him carry the bag.» I, of course, gladly carried it to the bus for him. He was exiting the plane. The people are no longer alive. Galina Polishikh, we talked with her on the plane. I don»t remember, though, about what. Well, just a couple of phrases.

In «89, I came up from the galley, passengers sitting there. And from behind the curtain I look, and there»s Konstantin Raikin.

Football players, coaches. We even transported teams, just football players. They were specially chartered. For them, special meals were organized on board. Such enhanced nutrition, not like for regular economy passengers, and chocolates. But some don«t eat at all, some just sleep, rest. They are without complaints.

— Why can»t you leave the tray table open during takeoff and landing?

— It«s all about safety. In an emergency situation, you need to assume a safe position, and here the table is in the way, the seat back for the passenger. There»s a special safe position: crossed arms, head [bent]. And with the table, everything will be in the way, and you simply can«t assume it.

During sudden braking, this table can press into the stomach. You even go lower than the table.

— Why open the window shades?

— That«s also safety. Because you can»t see what«s outside. If an emergency situation occurs, there might be a fire. So you can see that you don»t need to run there, you need to go the other way. And if the shade is down, you can«t see.

— How difficult is it to cope with the time difference?

— For me, there»s no difference at all. I can rest at any time of day. We arrive, say, need to rest during the day. I can lie down during the day, sleep, just like at night. Maybe earlier there was, I don«t remember. But now I don»t feel the time zones.

Of course, if you arrive in Vladivostok, there«s a five-hour difference with Yekaterinburg. Their dinner ends around nine in the evening. For us, that»s four in the afternoon, and after that, nothing, you can«t eat anything there. And we fly back in the morning.

— How far in advance do you know your schedule?

— Earlier it was Monday, Wednesday, Friday, we checked in by phone. But that was long ago. We only knew two to three days in advance, where they might assign us.

And now, half a month, say from the first to the fifteenth, I already know my approximate plan. There can be changes, but not always. Then closer to the fifteenth, up to the thirtieth, it will be known. This is the plan, when I will fly out or go on reserve.

— How long before the flight do you arrive at work?

— We arrive at work two hours before. Before the flight, we go to the pre-flight briefing. There we discuss where we»re flying, what situations might occur, what meals, what to do in an emergency. We undergo a medical check. They check pulse, look at how you are: well-being, sick — not sick.

We board the plane about an hour twenty before departure. At this time, we prepare the aircraft, receive meals, inspect the plane for safety. And prepare to meet passengers.

— At what age do flight attendants retire?

— Men at 50 years. Well, provided that you need to have flown for 10 years. And women at 45, provided 7.5 years of flight work.

— Favorite airplane?

— My most favorite airplane is the Il-86. It«s not only my favorite. All flight attendants who flew on it and then switched to Airbus think so. But it can»t compare with the Il-86, it«s the most favorite airplane.

I like it for its comfort. There, 350 passengers could be served much faster than these 160 on Airbus. The crew was larger, and from two aisles. Well, and comfortable, it»s two-level: kitchen downstairs. Two elevators, everything goes up, down.

— Is there sexism regarding male flight attendants?

— No, there isn«t. On the contrary, it»s even welcomed if there«s at least one man in the crew. You»re used to sleeping at night, and here you have to come to the flight, perform it, smile. It«s not an easy job either.